Everyone loves a wedding invite. It means two people, whom presumably you’re fond of to some degree, are taking the next big step in their lives together. Secondly, they consider you important enough to be there when they do. Thirdly, there might be a free bar. And, last but not least, for the stylishly inclined, it’s a golden opportunity to flex some menswear muscles.

Unfortunately, “stylishly inclined” doesn’t always translate to “confident with tailoring”. This is why, in addition to drunk aunties, weird uncles and bad dancing, nuptials are often awash with the sort of suiting faux pas that would leave Don Draper coughing and spluttering up little plumes of smoke, having swallowed and choked on his cigarette in startled disgust.

Suit jackets with jeans, overzealously cropped skinny-fit dress pants, and matching tie/pocket-square combos are just a few to tick off in a game of Ill-Conceived Wedding-Attire Bingo. And if you’re wondering what the problem is with any of those three things, that’s precisely why you need to keep reading.

The key to avoiding sartorial missteps is to have a core selection of go-to wedding guest outfits that covers all bases. Sort of like how you might have those few signature dishes you can successfully whip up without burning the house down.

These are the failsafe, fallback outfits that can be relied upon for everything from a seaside ceremony in the Maldives to a black-tie-optional reception at a swanky hotel (Pro tip: It’s never actually optional).

The Smart-Casual Wedding

Smart-casual sounds simple enough, but it’s actually one of the trickiest dress codes to navigate. How smart is too smart? How casual is too casual? Does it mean you can wear trainers? Will a suit be overkill? These are all valid questions and ones we will now attempt to address in outfit form.